North Rode Parish Council
Minutes of the Meeting held on Thursday 5th February 2026 at Daintry Hall
Present :-
Councillor Georgina Bailey, Vice Chairman
Councillor Alastair Bayley
Councillor Brian Evans
Councillor Mark Bullock
Councillor Lesley Smetham – Cheshire East Councillor
Brenda Lomas – Clerk
Members of the Public – Mr D Syson, Mrs A Syson and Mr A Syson
1. Apologies for absence –
Councillor Huw Williams, Chairman and Councillors Jacqui Lea & Jon Burwood
2. Public Participation
Members of the public were invited to present any comments but had nothing to raise.
3. To receive any Declarations of Interest
None received
4. To review, approve and sign the minutes of the previous meetings – held on Thursday 6th November 2025
Resolved – Councillors approved the minutes – Proposed by Cllr Bullock and seconded by Cllr Evans.
Councillor G Bailey, Vice Chairman signed the minutes
5. To discuss any matters arising from the minutes of the meetings
CE Councillor Lesley Smetham advised that she had pursued the Council’s Highways Department for a response in respect of the Parish Council’s request for details of the traffic count recently undertaken on Bank Lane. A response from Highways had subsequently been received by Cllr Williams, Chairman.
Resolved – Councillors felt all other matters were up to date or to be discussed in this meeting
6. Cheshire Wildlife Trust (CWT) – Wildlife Map of North Rode. The CWT map had been put in the Parish magazine by the Chairman – with details as regards land owners being able to contact the CWT if they wished to make comment on the map.
7. Peak Cluster discussion – The Chairman had provided detail in the Parish magazine as regards the proposal made by ‘Peak Cluster’ for a pipeline to run from the Concrete works in the High Peak area to transport carbon dioxide gas (in liquid form) to the empty natural gas chambers under the Irish sea. The proposed route will impact North Rode. The map of the route is currently presented as a ‘wide brush’ area which will be refined nearer the time of construction when engineers have inspected the land and determined the final route. The pipe coming through North Rode is from the Cauldon Lowe works and will be around 18 inches in diameter. It will join the wider pipe (3 foot diameter) pipework which is serving the three plants in the Derbyshire / Buxton area – further down the route in Gawsworth.
The pipework will enter the parish under the railway viaduct and cross the A54 highway above Colley Mill bridge, then cross the River Dane and travel up the fields to Bank Lane. From there, it will be directed through the Park and towards Gawsworth. It has been five years in planning and will take a further five years to come to fruition. The Parish Council have been consulted by both the Planning Inspectorate and Peak Cluster for comments (comments to be made by 10th Feb and 27th Feb respectively). A discussion ensued as regards the comments which the Parish Council would wish to make. The Chairman has already put together some points and the discussions added to those points. Councillors considered that there were two important issues – firstly – the impact of the construction works as the pipe is installed and secondly – the impact of the ongoing maintenance of the pipe to land owners thereafter. Comments suggested :-
• How will the River Dane will be crossed and disruption to wildlife minimised?
• How will narrow and busy lanes in North Rode be crossed to minimise disruption to road users, locals, businesses and farms?
• How will access to working farmland bisected by the working width be provided for farmers?
• What building/farming restrictions will be in place alongside and above the pipeline?
• How will access to public footpaths be maintained across the working width?
• Concerns re the high potential of damage to field drains
• What is the estimated dates on which will the work be progressed?
• What is the estimated time period for disruption to take place?
• How will the work be phased?
• What size of vehicles will use the narrow lanes including Church Lane and Bank Lane?
• Will service ‘depots’ be created within the land?
• What recourse is there if the work is not done to the satisfaction of the land owners / or problems occur thereafter?
• What checks will be done as regards putting drains back correctly?
• Will trees be removed and then replaced?
Action – Clerk to put together a consultative response and pass it to all Councillors for approval before forwarding it to the Planning Inspectorate and Peak Cluster by the relevant dates.
Cllr Bullock, as an affected landowner, has already been approached and had discussions with two representatives of Peak Cluster. His advice is for all affected landowners to engage the services of an independent surveyor (who’s fees will be paid by Peak Cluster) to act on the land owner’s behalf at every stage. He advises keeping a diary of time spent on anything related to Peak Cluster.
8. Defibrillators – maintenance and ongoing costs
Councillor Brian Evans advised that the batteries for the defibrillators are not rechargeable and that the battery to the Daintry Hall defibrillator was 50% used. The Station Road defibrillator battery was still at 100% power. John Miller of Dane Valley First Responders who maintains the defibrillators on the Parish Council’s behalf, advised that whilst he would monitor the Daintry Hall defibrillator to ensure that it would still work – he recommended that a new battery is purchased at this stage in preparation for the change over when required. The cost will be £270 including VAT but excluding packing / delivery.
The purchase of bleed packs will be considered for the future
Resolved – Councillors agreed to the purchase of the replacement battery and to the cost.
9. Well Dressing event
Councillors wished to thank those who had physically worked on repairing and improving the well – namely Councillors Williams and Bullock but also village residents David Shaw and Ian Crewe.
Cllr Williams had proposed that workshops to prepare the well dressing should be held from Saturday 22nd August until Saturday 29th August and that the actual well dressing event could be held on Sunday 30th August 2026. There is a possibility that a road closure could be put in place for the event. It was hoped to have a village barn dance (paid ticket entry) in a marquee – possibly at Daintry Hall – and perhaps Morris Dancers as entertainment. Cllr Bullock offered to make enquiries with a resident of Bosley whom he is aware is part of a Morris dancing troupe. It was acknowledged that there will potentially be some costs for the Parish Council for the village event and that a working party should be set up to plan / prepare for the event.
Actions : Cllr M Bullock to make enquiries re Morris Dancers
10. Parish Meeting and AGM – 7th May 2026
Councillors agreed that a presentation on the progress of the Daintry Hall improvements together with cheese and wine (funded by the Parish Council as per in 2025) would be appropriate for the Parish Meeting. It was discussed that an invitation to residents should be sent in good time – possibly via the Bullocks’ email list, advert in the parish magazine and possibly by flyers delivered house to house.
Action – Daintry Hall Management Committee to be requested to provide a presentation. Clerk to discuss advertising of the Parish Meeting / consideration re flyers with the Chairman
11. Planning Applications
There were no current planning applications to discuss.
12. Planning Enforcement (the below to remain on the agendas until resolved)
a) Tinker Bells Hollow, Bramhall Hill Lane
b) Land behind Daintry Hall
c) Mobile caravan at North Rode Stables, Bank Lane, North Rode
d) Far Whittles, Farm, Bramhall Hill – use of chalet for holiday accommodation
The Clerk has referred these issues to the CEC planning enforcement department – but there were no responses to discuss.
13. Highways – the following highways issues were discussed:
a) Flooding of Bramhall Hill
It was acknowledged that whilst it had been noticed that flooding still occurs following downpours of rain – the water now drains away within a day or two which is an improvement. (following drainage work by the Highways Department).
Action – the PC needs to keep a watching brief on the situation
b) Traffic on Bank Lane / Church Lane – complaint from a resident
The Chairman had received a complaint from a village resident regarding the traffic problems on Bank Lane / Church Lane and requesting consideration for traffic lights to be installed. Councillors discussed the matter and agreed that traffic lights were perhaps not the best method of control as they were likely to cause unnecessary delays to residents when the road was clear. Other methods of traffic control such as ‘access only’ route might be more appropriate. However, the traffic review / Highways Officers should consider all options to mitigate the current problems – which are mainly due to satnavs directing drivers from the Congleton Link Road down Bank Lane and Church Lane.
Action – Clerk to write to the resident to confirm the outcome of the Parish Council discussions
c) HGV’s / traffic count / response from Highways
The Chairman had received a response from Highways – to advise that as next year will be the fifth anniversary of the opening of the Congleton Link Road – Highways will be undertaking a full assessment of the impact of the Link Road – including its impact on North Rode. In terms of HGV’s everyone should still report any sightings to the Chairman to pass onto the Police.
Action – to await the outcome of the 5 year review in 2027. To continue to report HGV sightings.
d) Councillors discussed the planted Laurel hedgeing on the road verge by Tinker Bells Hollow and the impact that it is having on Bramhall Hill now that the hedge has grown. The hedge has resulted in a narrowing of the road and drivers are forced to the other side of the road making it dangerous. Also concerns were expressed regarding a deep hole in the side of the road in that vicinity and that the road surface in general is in a very poor condition and requires attention.
Resolved – the above issues to be reported to the Highways Department
14. Finance
The current balance of the Parish Council is £5060.77
Councillors approved the following expenditures :-
Daffodill bulbs – £73.14
Hire of Daintry Hall for the PC meeting – £30
Microsoft annual fee – £84.99
Proposed by Cllr Mark Bullock and seconded by Cllr Brian Evans
15. Community WhatsApp group
A resident had suggested that a village WhatsApp group could be set up to advise of situations such as road closures, power cuts etc. Councillors discussed the pros and cons of a community WhatsApp group. It was felt that a WhatsApp group wasn’t appropriate for the Parish Council to support as most of the subjects are outside of the PC’s remit / responsibilities. Concerns were expressed that it might not be too useful and may end up as a ‘chatting’ of villagers function. Councillors suggested that residents could always set up their own ‘local area’ WhatsApp group with close neighbours.
Action – Clerk to write to the resident to advise of the outcome of the discussions
AOB – Councillors thanked Cllr Bailey for chairing this evening’s meeting in the absence of Cllr Williams
16. To confirm the dates of the next two meetings
Thursday 7th May 2026 – to include the Parish Meeting and AGM
Thursday 30th July 2026
The meeting closed at 9.10pm